bassac and the Development Trusts Association jointly purchased a building in May 2006. They are creating a “Community Hub” with multiple benefits. It will enhance organisational sustainability, improve efficiency, and reconfigure resources towards better services for community organisations across the country. It will also offer incubation for community sector initiatives of national significance.

The Slater Centre established a new building in 2004 at New Greenham Park, provided by Greenham Common Trust to enable the recycling of goods and to provide training and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Ten community organisations working with the socially excluded, many of whom have physical or learning disabilities, have come together to increase real working opportunities and to provide the necessary training and support for this disadvantaged group. In addition they offer managed workspace for charities and voluntary organisations, who can rent one or more desk positions in a large open plan office area.

Established in April 2007, it was a joint development with a housing association. There are flats on the upper floors providing affordable housing for key workers. The Centre offers office accommodation for local voluntary groups, hot-desking for small neighbourhood groups, meeting rooms and other facilities. The Centre was funded by a consortium including the Home Office, Big Lottery Fund, the local authorities and some local foundations.

The Ethical Property Company operates shared buildings for charities, social enterprises and campaigning organisations.

Publications including Sink or SWiM? Towards a 21st Century Community Sector – free download. The report assesses how ‘clustering’ by local community organisations (including sharing community buildings) can help secure their future.

A group of charities focusing on children plan to establish a shared building.

Case studies of charities sharing back-office functions and buildings.

Other sources of information, reports and reference material on collaborative working.

Practical information and advice from the Collaborative Working Unit of NCVO.

Guidance from the Charity Commission for all charities who may be considering working in partnership or merging with other organisations.

If you are a registered charity, you need to know what the Charity Commission’s rules on trading and charities are. This guide explains what counts as trading, what primary purpose trading is, and what forms of trading a registered charity can carry out.

This link opens the .pdf order form for Community Matters publications. They publish two key books with lots of practical advice on running a community building:
Managing Your Community Building 3rd edition, by Peter Hudson, edited by Jacki Reason, and Occupying Community Premises - guidelines for community associations and local authorities 2nd Edition Edited by Jonathan Dawson LL.B.

Case studies and key issues in the management of community buildings from Community Matters.

This section examines the use of property as an income-generating (or cost-saving) asset.